Feel free to explore and take articles from Travel Content Online. We only ask that each article is used unedited and in its entirety, with any active hyper links included.
Enjoy exploring our articles.
The Travel Content Online team
Archive for the ‘Bhutan Holidays’ Category
All visits to the beautiful mountain kingdom on Bhutan treks and tours are a magical, often once in a lifetime experience – one that can be enhanced by coinciding with one of the kingdom’s many vibrant festivals. These occasions combine merriment and religion; they often honour deities or an important aspect of the country’s history through music, dance, sporting competition, feasting, drinking and more, with attendance conferring merit for the person’s next life. Festivals abound throughout the kingdom, celebrated nationally or locally; people arranging Bhutan treks and tours will find exciting possibilities throughout the year. Here are just a few of the major ones.
Tshechus
Perhaps the most famous festivals, the Tshechus in Thimpu, Paro and Bumthang attract the greatest number of visitors. However, Tshechus occur all over Bhutan, either in spring or autumn according to the lunar calendar. They are dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and are celebrated for three to five days. Members of the public – or visitors on Bhutan treks and tours – are warmly welcomed.
Tshechus were established during the 17th century and have a religious purpose. Monks and village elders perform a carefully sequenced range of dances and other religious rites, while wearing beautiful, bright ceremonial costumes with elaborate masks – a true highlight of Bhutan treks and tours. These dances are more than entertainment: each has spiritual importance, choreographed to teach visitors about the Buddhist teachings (known as Dharma), freeing them from the evils of life and protecting them from harm. The festivals also serve to exorcise evil spirits, reconcile the gods and ask for a good harvest. They take place in the courtyards of the dzongs, attended by people in their finest clothes who use the days as a social gathering as well as a religious event.
Dromchoes
These festivals are dedicated to the deities that protect each of Bhutan’s districts. The most famous occurs each spring at the Punakha dzong, honouring Punakha’s protecting spirit, Mahakala – but there are many others. Festival performances include war songs, dances, the throwing of firecrackers, and the Marching Ceremony, carried out by the Pazaps, the traditional fighting forces of the region.
Bhutan’s National Day
Taking place on December 17th each year, Bhutan’s National Day commemorates the first king of Bhutan, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk, in 1907, and honours the peace and prosperity that he brought to the kingdom. The major procession and festival takes place in Changlimithang National Stadium, in Thimpu, but celebrations occur across the country.
All of the above festivals offer an excellent glimpse into the religious and national character of Bhutan. Treks and tours that coincide with a festival typically build in time for visitors to enjoy the events; scheduling the dates accordingly is highly recommended.
Looking for Bhutan treks ? Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan treks and tours. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!
This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.
In 2010, an important discovery was made: tigers live at surprisingly high altitudes in the Himalaya of Bhutan. They have been discovered as high as 4,100 metres above sea level, provoking delight among conservationists. Not only are they excited to see such endangered animals surviving in the wild, but it means that areas targeted for tiger conservation can be expanded into far higher altitudes than previously was thought possible. While people on Bhutan treks or tours are unlikely to glimpse these rare, elusive cats, the news is surely heartening to anyone who cares about the country and its animals.
Theories
It was already known that tigers lived in the Himalayan foothills of Bhutan, but information on their numbers and range was hard to come by. Anecdotal reports by villagers suggested that they might be living at altitudes as great as 4,000 metres. In these remote parts of Bhutan, treks to determine the existence of elusive and rare animals are not easy. Tiger expert Dr Alan Rabinowitz and BBC cameraman Gordon Buchanan teamed up to seek proof using camera traps. These are cameras set up across the mountains along with motion detectors; any animal moving in front of the camera triggers it to being filming. Buchanan placed the traps between 3,000 and 4,100 metres above sea level.
Evidence
When Buchanan returned to collect the cameras after three months, he found an amazing array of footage: animals that many people on Bhutan treks or tours only dream of seeing in the wild. Jungle cats, leopards, Himalayan black bear and a red panda, as well as red foxes, monkeys and others.
Most importantly of all, the cameras contained images of two wild tigers, one male and one female. The male was seen scent-marking, which means that the tiger pair are living in their own territory, not just wandering up to the higher mountain reaches. Meanwhile the female was lactating, strong evidence that the altitude is not preventing the tigers from breeding normally. The discovery moved Buchanan to tears of happiness. His footage is the first concrete evidence of tigers surviving at such altitudes.
The tigers’ future
Buchanan’s discovery is excellent news for the tigers of the Himalayas. Tigers used to roam widely all over Asia, but they now only remain in limited pockets. About 3,000 are estimated to survive in the wild, after heightened poaching and habitat loss in the past century. One scheme that hopes to help save these animals from extinction is The Tiger Corridor Initiative, promoted by the conservation organisation, Pandera. The scheme wants to connect the surviving groups of tigers with “tiger corridors”, allowing them to move more safely across the mountains and breed more widely, increasing genetic diversity. The discovery that tigers can survive at higher altitudes means a greater range of land can be incorporated to create these corridors.
As population and foreign visitors expand in this region, such initiatives are vital. Although Bhutan treks and tours are currently restricted in numbers by the Bhutanese government, the likelihood of future growth in the country’s tourist sector means that putting in place measures to keep its endangered animals safe are crucially important.
Looking for Bhutan treks ? Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan treks and tours. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!
This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.
Given the expense of Bhutan treks, it’s important for visitors to plan their itinerary carefully – they might not get a chance to return. Festivals, architecture, holy sites, bird-watching and varied cultures are all on offer, besides the picturesque mountains and valleys, ensuring that there’s a perfect trip for everyone. Here are four key destinations to keep in mind while planning a Bhutan trek.
Paro
This is a standard destination, but not one to dismiss lightly. From the streets lined with traditional architecture and walked by red-robed monks, to the medieval bridge and the Paro Dzong housing sacred masks and costumes, not to mention the breathtaking Taktsang Monastery perched on a Cliffside – Paro is a marvellous stop on Bhutan treks for visitors interested in architecture and town culture. In March or April there is an annual festival, the tsechu, where holy idols are taken in procession, traditional mask dances are performed and a large, important thangka (embroidered silk painting) is briefly unveiled for public viewing before the sun rises. Paro is one of those places that regularly appears on itineraries for a very good reason.
Bumthang
Translating as “beautiful field”, Bumthang comprises four valleys in the centre of Bhutan. Treks through the valleys give visitors the opportunity to walk through landscape that is both beautiful and holy. It is in this region that Pema Lingpa, a famous saint and siddha, dived with a butter lamp into Membartsho (Burning Lake) and retrieved a new sacred text. He had told onlookers that if he was a false spirit, his lamp would be extinguished. When he returned to the surface, it still burned brightly. Other historic events included plugging the subterranean lake below Konchogsum Lhakhang, where the stone plug can still be seen. Visitors interested in the religious traditions of Bhutan will be rewarded by a trek in Bhutan’s holiest valley.
Gangtey and the Black-Necked Cranes
Bhutan is the winter home of the rare black-necked cranes, an exquisite bird whose circling over the land is considered a blessing by the local people. Planning a Bhutan trek for around 11th November will allow visitors to witness the Black-Necked Crane Festival at Gangtey Monastery, a 16th century monastery that the birds have been wintering near for thousands of years. Children dressed as cranes perform choreographed dances and everyone watches the sky for landing birds. However, if you miss the festival, the birds can still be seen throughout winter, from the end of October until February, an essential sight for wildlife enthusiasts.
Eastern Bhutan
The country’s east has recently been re-opened to visitors, so now is a great time to visit this culturally distinct region of Bhutan. Treks here encompass the town of Tashigang and its hilltop dzong, then venture out into the countryside to take in villages and the beautiful scenery of the eastern Himalaya. This region used to be on an important trade route connecting Tibet to Assam in India and currently has the country’s densest population. Some of these are the semi-nomadic Brokpa people, yak and sheep herders, whose architecture, dress, language and customs are different to those found in the rest of Bhutan. For instance, both men and women wear a hat called a Gamashamo: flat and made of waterproof yak-hair felt, with five descending appendages that drain off the rain, keeping the face and hair dry. Anyone with an interest in minority cultures should seriously consider visiting this fascinating region.
Looking for Bhutan treks ? Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan treks and tours. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia
Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!
This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.
When on one of the variety of beautiful Bhutan treks available, try to plan so you can attend at least one of the traditional festivals held throughout the year for an even more memorable experience. Bhutan still emanates a beautiful old-world atmosphere, and although the modern world is slowly making its presence felt, the locals still live according to their important traditions and customs. Here are a few of the wonderful festivals and rituals that are recommended while on your Bhutan treks.
The Tsechus
The tsechus (which means ‘ten’) are held in honour of Guru Rinpoche and can last up to four days, making an ideal, and sometimes welcome, break during your Bhutan treks. Rinpoche was the guru who introduced the Himalaya to Buddhisim. Padmasambhava, the human form of Guru Rinpoche, visited Bhutan in the 8th and 9th century to teach and spread the word of Buddhisim. He once aided the ailing King of the Bumthang Valley and in return the King helped to spread his word. The first tsechu was held in Bumthang where the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche were represented in eight forms of dance. The festivals are now held in each dzongkhag (district) on the tenth day of a month in the Tibetan lunar calendar. (The month will depend on the district, so you will need to do some research before go.) The festival is both exciting and mystical with a strong connection formed between dancer and spectator; the audience becomes caught up in the spiritual atmosphere emanating from the dancers, who are dressed in masks and costumes. It is said to be a blessing to watch these dancers and singers perform the rituals, and many believe it can affect the spectator in some fundamental way; so if you are able to participate in one on your Bhutan treks, you can consider yourself very fortunate. Bhutanese families will come to celebrate garbed in their finest clothes, so make sure that you also attend dressed for the occasion, as failure to do so can be seen as a mark of disrespect.
Throngdoel
Make sure you take a detour, if necessary, on your Bhutan treks to visit a festival where they unfold a special thangka (silk tapestry), called a throngdel. This is composed of two silk layers – the painting of the Buddhist saint and the yellow cover that protects it. The word throngdoel means ‘liberation on sight’. They are displayed only once a year, so for a unique opportunity to view these artworks check when they occur before you book your Bhutan treks. The painting cannot be exposed to direct sunlight so they unfurl the silk at around 3am and it is rolled back before the sun rises. Local people queue in the hopes of touching their heads to the bottom of the throndoel and receive a blessing.
Ache Lhamo Dances
Specific to the village of Ura in the region of Bumthang, the Ache Lhamo Dances are a very beautiful ritual to witness. The festival takes place in the seventh month of the Bhutanese calendar and concerns only the girls in the village. A trip is taken up the mountain by the young females of the villages and they will make offerings and dance all day long. When the sun sets, the girls will return to the temple, bringing beautiful flower offerings with them, then perform the Ache Lhamo Dances. This is definitely one to put on you Bhutan treks’ calendar.
Looking for Bhutan treks? Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan treks and tours. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
Thank you for visiting Travel Articles Directory. Feel free to use any of our travel writing articles for your own website, on the condition that you also take the link we have included in the text. Check back for more travel writing soon; we’re uploading more original travel articles all the time!
This article was provided by LeadGenerators – the smartest SEO agency in London, and the proud host of a series of Internet Marketing training seminars and Social Media breakfasts.
It goes without saying that while on your Bhutan trek you’ll want to experience as much of the local culture as possible. However to the strait-laced Westerner, some of Bhutan’s ancient beliefs and customs can come across as slightly bizarre. Nevertheless they are fascinating to behold and if you come along with an open-mind then you’re certain to have an incredible time. These three unusual experiences simply must be experienced on your Bhutan trek:
Eat a Dish Made From Just Chillies and Cheese
While the Annapurna Circuit is often nicknamed the Apple Pie Circuit, due to the abundance of apple pies en-route, someone should look at renaming Bhutan ‘the land of the chilli’. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the locals love chillies more than any other ingredient, and as well as including chillies in almost every dish, they also like to serve them pickled as a side vegetable. If there is one ingredient that they love almost as much as chillies it’s cheese, and it goes without saying that the national dish is a meal that contains both chillies and cheese – and that’s pretty much it! This dish, named Ema Datshi, isn’t for the faint-hearted, but if you love both chillies and cheese then it’s definitely worth sampling on your Bhutan trek.
Visit the Temple of the Divine Madman
The Madman was actually a revered Bhutanese saint that not only gave the country its national animal, but also helped a lot of the locals with their fertility issues. His temple in the Punakha Valley really needs to be seen to be believed; but whatever you do don’t giggle in the front of any of the monks. Chimi Lhakhang may be decorated with giant phalluses, but the locals take worship at this temple very seriously. When you first enter the temple on your Bhutan trek, a monk will make you bow to all four corners of the temple, before kneeling in front of a giant phallus. Local custom is to visit this temple for fertility issues and after drinking three different coloured liquids you’ll be presented with your lucky number and the name of the child that you will bear within the next year, before being whacked on the head by a giant wooden phallus. If children aren’t on your agenda yet, then it’s probably best to give this temple a miss.
Visit the World’s Only Yeti Reserve
On your Bhutan trek you’ll probably hear a lot of stories about the yeti, or the ‘migoi’, as the locals call him. This might just be folklore, but the locals genuinely believe in his existence, in fact so much so that they’ve set up a yeti reserve in the village of Sakten. This 253 square mile sanctuary was created to protect the habitat of the migoi whose body is covered in thick, reddish-brown hair, although his face is hairless. The Bhutanese have two theories as to why the migoi is rarely spotted; firstly it has its feet on backwards, which confuses many trackers; and secondly, it also has the ability to make itself invisible. If, despite the odds, you fancy your chances of spotting the elusive migoi on your Bhutan trek, the reserve is located 37 miles outside Trashigang.
Looking for a Bhutan tour? Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan trek and tours. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
The online travel writing provided by Travel Content Online is free to take, providing you take the links in the text, too. Use it to add fresh online content to your website. Thank you for visiting us – hopefully our travel content will bring more visitors to your site, too.
LeadGenerators hopes you enjoyed this article. An Online Marketing agency based in London, LeadGenerators hosts a series of Social Media and Internet Marketing training sessions and seminars.
Before you head off on your Bhutan Trek you’ll want to make sure that you’ve had the correct inoculations, packed the right supplies and have your paperwork in order. However, if you also want some idea of what to expect when you’re in Bhutan, the following books are perfect for a spot of pre-trip reading:
A Baby in a Backpack to Bhutan – Bunty Avieson
When an Australian family decide to leave Oz and move to Bhutan, you can bet that there will be chaos and calamity all around. Especially when the family decide to take their young baby with them on their Bhutan trek holed up in a backpack. Some parts of Bunty’s light narrative are especially poignant for mothers of small children who want to know the perils and dangers of travelling in a third world country with their young offspring. However, the insight that it gives into the Bhutanese culture will strike a chord with everyone travelling around Asia’s happiest country.
Facts About Bhutan – Lily Wangchukk
This hardcover book is perhaps a little bulky to take with you on a Bhutan trek, however the stunning pictures make it a brilliant souvenir for you to take home from Bhutan. The huge reference guide contains fascinating pictures and data from the land of Druk. It also gives an insight into the land’s turbulent history and cultural issues that tourists should take into account on their travels. The book was written by a former Bhutanese diplomat and most of the evidence is backed up with academic- looking charts and graphs. If you’re planning on visiting more of the country after your Bhutan trek then you may be interested in the page detailing the driving distances between different Bhutanese attractions – although we recommend photocopying the page rather than taking the whole book with you.
Beyond the Sky and the Earth – Jamie Zeppa
Jamie Zeppa was a young, innocent Catholic girl who had never left her Canadian mining hometown, before accepting a two year stint teaching in a rural Bhutanese village. Jamie instantly fell in love with the country despite the initial shock of living without material goods. When the time came for Jamie to leave her mountain kingdom behind, she had undergone a personal transformation and found herself caught between two different worlds. It is mere coincidence that Jamie’s story echoes that of the ancient Buddhist tale of Siddhartha, in that the author, at the age of 22, abruptly leaves a stale life behind in order to find enlightenment.
In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon – Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley’s grandparents visited Bhutan back in 1931, to invest King Jigme Wangchuk as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire. Without public transport, their Bhutan trek took four months through dense jungle, mountain passes and uncharted plains. Joanna, who has long felt an affinity to the country because of her grandparents, decided to follow in their footsteps by writing this book as she journeyed through the country. In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon contains a collection of traditional recipes, ancient customs and a fascinating insight into Joanna’s family history.
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan Trek holidays. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
The online travel writing provided by Travel Content Online is free to take, providing you take the links in the text, too. Use it to add fresh online content to your website. Thank you for visiting us – hopefully our travel content will bring more visitors to your site, too.
LeadGenerators hopes you enjoyed this article. An Online Marketing agency based in London, LeadGenerators hosts a series of Social Media and Internet Marketing training sessions and seminars.
Bhutan, the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon, is a land shrouded in mystery and steeped in ancient tradition. This is never more apparent than if you coincide your Bhutan Trekking holiday with one of the country’s Buddhist tsechu festivals known as tsechus. There are festivals throughout the year and some tour companies provide tailor-made Bhutan trekking itineraries to take advantage of the festival calendar.
History of Tsechus
The Bhutanese are a spiritual people and the tsechu is a very important event in their culture. While there are many of these festivals throughout the year, they are all celebrated in honour of Guru Rimpoche who brought Buddhism to the country in the 8th and 9th century. The story goes that Padmasambhava (the human manifestation of Guru Rimpoche) visited Bhutan in order to give aid to an ailing king by performing a series of rites and dances. The very first tsechu presented the Guru Rinpoche in eight different forms, each through a different dance, and it is from these dances that the ‘Chams’, which glorify the work of Padmasambhava, evolved.
It is said that Guru Rinpoche carried out all his good deeds on the 10th day of the lunar month, from which the tsechu’s literal meaning, ‘day ten’, comes. The tradition is followed and each event is held on the tenth day of the month taken from the lunar calendar. Each district holds their own celebration at different times of the year so it is possible to come across more than one on a Bhutan trekking holiday.
Rites of the Tsechu
Known for their unique and endearing warmth, the Bhutanese people love the symbolic celebration of their tsechu and the entire village or town will become involved in what can often run over several days. While definitely religious in their meaning, they are a joyous occasion with intricate dances being performed not only by the monks, but the local lay people as well.
Some tsechus also include a blessing from a high lama called a ‘wang’, which is said to disperse impurities. Those who witness this blessing are given a coloured thread to tie around their necks to symbolise the ritual cleansing. In Bhutan, trekking through the villages, even if you do not come across a festival, you will often see locals with the remnants of these threads around their necks.
In contrast to the monks, are the figures of the Atsaras, who are the Bhutanese equivalent of the clown. These intriguing characters wear startlingly expressive masks and they taunt and goad the monks and try to distract the crowds with their antics. Bhutan’s religion is extremely sacred to their way of life and the Atsaras are the only people permitted to mock the rites, and only during tsechu.
Some tsechus include less dancing but more readings from a prescribed text. The villagers all gather together at a temple and participate in these readings while, at the same time, imbibing in a strong alcoholic beverage.
Tsechus are very important in Bhutanese culture and if villagers have moved away to another region, or to the city, they are expected to return to their own village to take part in the celebrations. It is a real social occasion and a chance to dress up in their finest clothes and jewellery to enjoy good food and the good company of their fellow villagers. Visitors, trekking Bhutan, are welcomed into the festivities with the traditional warmth and joy of the local people and it is impossible not to get swept up in the magic of the occasion.
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who run Bhutan Trekking holidays. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
The online travel writing provided by Travel Content Online is free to take, providing you take the links in the text, too. Use it to add fresh online content to your website. Thank you for visiting us – hopefully our travel content will bring more visitors to your site, too.
LeadGenerators hopes you enjoyed this article. An Online Marketing agency based in London, LeadGenerators hosts a series of Social Media and Internet Marketing training sessions and seminars.
People travel to Bhutan for many reasons. For some it is the lure of an ancient culture steeped in spiritual history; for others it is the challenge of entering the interior of a country which is still much of a mystery to the outside world; and for those with adventure in their hearts, it is an opportunity to trek through the spectacular mountains and valleys of Bhutan. Tours to this country can be as diverse as the travellers themselves, but the one common thread running through all the reasons which draw people to Bhutan, is the people.
Known as an extremely spiritual race, the Bhutanese place happiness above all else. Bhutan’s leaders head the only government in the world which makes its policy decisions based on their impact on GNH – Gross National Happiness. This policy means that Bhutan’s decisions are often at extreme odds to other countries which base their decisions and actions on monetary and power-seeking opportunities. Bhutan tours will take you into the heart of a country where time and technology have not yet sullied the minds of its people, and where television was not even introduced until 1999. Even now it is not wholeheartedly embraced and many TV programmes, which are not deemed to contribute to the happiness of the people, are banned.
Many throughout the world expound that the Bhutanese have found the ‘formula for happiness’, but it appears that, in fact, it is a quality so spiritually entrenched that it needs no teaching. While the government nurtures Bhutan’s spiritual development by placing it above the importance of material gain, anyone who has spent time in Bhutan will vouch for its people’s natural warmth and spirituality.
Canadian-American actor and Parkinson’s disease sufferer Michael J Fox, undertook several of his own Bhutan tours whilst producing his documentary, “Adventures of an Incurable Optimist”. Returning several times to Bhutan in his search for the reasons that make people happy, Fox expressed his fascination with the country’s commitment to the happiness and spiritual well-being of its people.
The GNH is based on the Buddhist premise of taking ‘the middle path’. Instead of striving, as most western societies do, towards the cultivation of economic and social progression as their ultimate goals, Bhutan believes that true enlightenment and happiness arises when “spiritual and material development occur side-by-side to complement and reinforce each other”. Michael J Fox said that, although not a Buddhist himself, his Bhutan tours had strengthened his own personal philosophies on staying positive and being optimistic regarding the future.
With its reputation as a destination for healing and happiness, it seems that word may be spreading to the rest of the world about the wisdom of the policies of Bhutan. Tours to the country have become more popular over the past few years and, of course, its location in the foothills of the majestic Himalaya only enhances its attraction. Although tourism is regulated to limit damage to the environment, Bhutan welcomes foreigners. The people live out their principles of kindness, compassion and respect for all living things and you will be embraced into a culture of real and sincere happiness. Perhaps you will take a little of the formula away with you…
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have arranged Bhutan Tours for many years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
The online travel writing provided by Travel Content Online is free to take, providing you take the links in the text, too. Use it to add fresh online content to your website. Thank you for visiting us – hopefully our travel content will bring more visitors to your site, too.
This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest SEO agency in London.
Travelling by foot, Michael Palin’s Bhutan Tours, part of his BBC Himalaya adventure, took him from woodland to high country with bare mountain faces and isolated, spectacular villages. Having said farewell to the giants of the Himalaya, he then explored the religious centres of the Bhutanese towns and monasteries.
Michael began this episode of his epic Himalaya journey near the Tibetan border on the north-western extreme of Bhutan. Tours running through this region can include various trekking routes, perhaps via the hot springs near Gasa, or the impressive Drukgyel Dzong near Paro or the isolated mountain village of Laya – home to ancient tribespeople. All these trekking routes are dominated by the majestic Himalaya range, from which Michael trekked to the green valleys of Bhutan, heading ultimately to the flatlands of the Bay of Bengal 600 km to the South.
This BBC Bhutan tour’s entourage consisted of twenty ponies to carry the camping gear, food and equipment, and half as many guides and porters to set up camp and lead the way. This was necessary as their route was “off-piste” (as Michael called it) taking them through a stunning, mountainous landscape with no roads following trails that mountain men have used as trade routes for centuries, transporting food, clothes, animals over long distances.
Michael was quick to point out how he was privileged to be trekking in Bhutan. Tourists must pay a heavy, daily levy whilst in the country which, together with a limited number of flights into the country, limits the numbers of visitors. Unlike some prohibitive, conservative nations that Michael had visited in the past, he explained that the levy was not intended to keep foreigners away, but merely to manage the effect that they have upon the Bhutanese landscape.
After a three day trek, Michael and his crew arrived at an unbelievably picturesque, grassy spot alongside the Paro River, where they would camp for the night. He took off his boots and soaked his aching feet in the icy glacial meltwater, commenting that it was “perfect relief” for feet that had walked 15km a day or more, and were usually only “used for going up and down stairs.” He also mentioned that he’d slept better during his Bhutan tour than he usually does in London. Where some people struggle to sleep at higher altitudes, he put the depth of his newfound slumber down to the sheer exertion of the trekking experience.
At Paro the next day, Michael joined two thousand pilgrims who had completed Bhutan tours of their own to reach the town in time for the Tsechu Festival, the religious and cultural highlight of the year. He approached the dzong temple through a market thronging with Bhutanese travellers, chanting monks, and stray dogs, before joining the crowds in the temple. They gathered around the staircases and balconies overlooking a sunlit, square courtyard. Within the circle of the audience, the musicians beat upon drums and bells, singing in long tones, while troupes danced elaborate, whirling routines dressed in baggy tunics and flowing fabrics. In a country that has had television for less than a decade and few theatres or cinemas, this was the great entertainment for the crowd, who were clearly enthralled by the show.
Later, the Tsechu Festival allowed Michael some time for some meditation in the Queen Mother’s chapel, and he witnessed the sacred early morning ritual of the unveiling of the great thanka (religious painting) which is as high as a five-storey house and must be covered again before it is touched by the first rays of dawn.
Trekking in the Himalaya clearly had an effect on mister Palin, the perennial traveller. On the highest point of his Bhutan tour, at the Chomolhari base camp – a permanent staging area for trekkers and Bhutanese travellers – Michael was reluctant to leave the last of the great range behind. Looking up at Mount Chomolhari (7,314 m) he said, “Farewell big, monumental, Himalayan peaks. Farewell Chomolhari.”
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have arranged Bhutan Tours for many years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.
The online travel writing provided by Travel Content Online is free to take, providing you take the links in the text, too. Use it to add fresh online content to your website. Thank you for visiting us – hopefully our travel content will bring more visitors to your site, too.
This article was provided by LeadGenerators, the smartest SEO agency in London.
Bhutan tours immerse you in a kingdom of fables, flying tigers and evil spirits – a Himalayan landscape where the power of deities, reincarnation, meditation and prayer are intrinsic to the national culture.
Bhutan is a country where evil spirits and mythical deities are as much a part of daily life as eating and drinking, and on Bhutan tours you’ll also see the people wearing their national costume at work and home. This is a country that will astonish you with its beauty and enchant your imagination with its ancient culture and beliefs.
National Memorial Chorten
Thimphu is the capital of Bhutan, a place rather neglected by conventional tourist routes. A popular sight for Bhutan tours is the striking National Memorial Chorten (multi-tiered stone monument) which is shaped like an urn with an angular waist tapering to a golden spire. It was built in dedication to the popular third king, known as the father of modern Bhutan, and has numerous statues and pictures inside representing Buddhist Gods and tales. Outside there are prayer wheels around the walls which are drum-like cylinders on spindles, decorated with Buddhist script and designs and often encased in the archways of a wall. Spinning the wheels helps visualise Tantric prayers, sending the good wishes depicted on the wheel out into the world. They should be rotated in a clockwise direction, and you should also walk around the Chorten in a clockwise direction because walking anti-clockwise around such religious monuments angers the spirits.
Dzongs and Monasteries
From Thimphu, Bhutan tours tend to take you to the former capital at Punakha. Here you’ll find the temple of Punakha Dzong, a pretty white-walled and red-roofed fort. The Dzong is set against the background of rolling hills between the banks of the Mo Chhu and the Pho Chhu Rivers. The windows of the Dzong fortress are set in intricately carved wooden frames that might look at home in the Swiss Alps.
Dzongs and monasteries are characteristic features of Bhutan. These are sprawling and complex buildings traditionally constructed to spiritual specifications rather than architectural design, where a holy man determines the dimensions of the building.
One of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan is the “Tiger’s Nest” Taksang temple close to the large town of Paro. It is perched high on a mountainside shelf, six hundred metres and two hours’ hike up from the valley floor for those on Bhutan tours. The Taksang temple was once a place of meditation for the second Buddha, who was called Padmashambava. Legend has it that Padmashambava was born into the world as a small child, emerging from a lotus blossom. He then travelled to Bhutan, over the Himalaya, on the back of a flying tigress where he defeated five demons, who were opposing the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan.
Myths and Legends
Padmashambava’s story may sound outlandish to western ears, but not as strange as the commemoration to Drukpa Kunley that you may encounter on Bhutan Tours. Drukpa Kunley was a 15th Century Buddhist teacher, later referred to as “The Divine Madman,” who possessed magical powers of exorcism in his genitalia. He used his prowess to defeat demons, and so many houses now display murals or phallic icons (equivalent to gargoyles) which are symbols of fertility and used to scare off evil spirits. This is just one tradition in a remarkable culture that will grab your imagination and make a memorable holiday.
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have provided Bhutan tours for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.